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The Indian cricket team's shocking 0-2 defeat to South Africa in the recently concluded red-ball series has plunged the side into crisis.

Just days ago, South Africa gave India their heaviest defeat in terms of runs, defying expectations. It marked South Africa's initial series triumph in India in 25 years and the host nation's another home failure in just a year after a decade-plus without a home loss.

The momentum gained during the previous half-year has almost disappeared and the prospects of multiple squad members - along with team coach Gautam Gambhir - are now uncertain.

A Promising Start Disappears

The young team's strong showing in the UK this season, under a different skipper, indicated a smooth transition post the near-simultaneous retirements of key players Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Kohli.

A facile 2-0 victory over the Windies at the beginning of the home campaign strengthened that view, till the Proteas arrived to deliver a crushing loss.

India were a tad unfortunate that leader Shubman Gill got injured early on in the initial match and took no further part in the contest. But that neither explains nor absolves the squad of the well below standard display in each match against South Africa.

Some big reputations took a hit, and multiple individuals hoping for lengthy Test careers were exposed as still inadequate - in skill or mindset - for the format.

A Troubling Pattern

This was the second series sweep at home endured by the Indian team in just over a year. In 2024, little-fancied New Zealand had achieved a remarkable 3-0 triumph which essentially denied the hosts a place in the Test championship finale.

The recent defeat to the Proteas could damage the team's chances of qualifying for the decider of this season too.

Previously ranked third in the WTC rankings prior to the contest, the side have been relegated to the fifth spot. Though nine more Tests are yet to be played, five of these are against the Aussies. Usually, playing at home would be a huge advantage - including against the mighty Aussies. However the failures against the Kiwis and South Africa offer no room for such comfort.

Roots of the Decline

The national team's vulnerability in the longer format has been clearly revealed. Nevertheless, the reason the team have struggled so much in Tests on home soil lately is continues to confuse.

Since the turn of the century, the Indian cricket team were considered unbeatable in Test cricket at home. Under sweltering weather and on surfaces that assisted spinners and benefited their players, the hosts dominated all comers. The odd series defeat, such as in 2012-13 against England, was considered an aberration.

Currently, India seem beatable on home turf.

Against the Kiwis in last year and South Africa currently, the home side were defeated by their own tactics. The pitches they prepared to suit their strengths went wrong completely, as rivals used them more effectively, surpassing the Indian batters and bowlers when it counted the most.

The Core Issue

A few experts argue that India is floundering in home conditions because domestic pitches have been altered from spinning tracks to pace-friendly pitches to train the squad to succeed overseas.

A few mention that the domestic T20 league, in which many overseas players participate, has taken away the surprise and difficulty home wickets would pose to them in the past.

Even though there is a degree of accuracy in each argument, it still does not explain the reason the side's results at home have seen such a sharp fall.

Several Weaknesses

Most former players identify a complicated issue, not only one or two factors.

Experts and participants have identified multiple deficiencies after India's disappointing performance to the South Africans: underestimating the opposition, inadequate readiness, poor choices, arrogance, regular alterations of the playing XI, and favoring white-ball over red-ball cricket.

This was obvious in the showings of the squad.

Cricketers such as Rishabh Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom so much was expected, paid for their carelessness, while Sai Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Jurel - who were hoping to secure their position in the squad - fell short in ability and attitude, facing the fallout for their casual attitude.

Just a few - Ravindra Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep, Siraj and Sundar - fulfilled their ability and standing - but inadequately to claim wins.

Leadership Under Fire

The analysis also included just the players - the selection panel and backroom team were also criticized, fuelled by upset followers and vocal past stars. In the spotlight of the examination was mentor Gautam Gambhir.

In his post-series press